Sourcing cheese knives from China

Cheese knife duty and classification

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8211 covers knives with cutting blades and their blades. Finished fixed-blade cheese knives and assorted knife sets carry 8% duty from China; separate blades carry 6% and base metal handles 2%. The supplied record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, steel measures or suspensions.

The tariff attaches ivory import controls to assorted sets and fixed-blade knife lines, and CITES import controls across the listed lines. Listed-species ivory items intended for sale or hire require registration or an exemption certificate. CITES specimens entering Great Britain require a permit; specimens include items made from animal or plant parts. For handles containing these materials from China, confirm eligibility and the required customs documents with your customs broker before ordering.

Classification depends on whether the goods are table knives, preparation knives, assorted sets or separate components. Mixed packs containing forks or servers need separate assessment. Send photographs, intended use and pack contents when confirming the commodity code. See the kitchen and folding knives guide for the wider heading.

Specify the cheese, blade and handle

Specify whether the knife is for soft cheese, slicing firm cheese or breaking hard cheese. Agree blade length, thickness, edge profile, perforations, forked tip and handle clearance against a drawing and approved sample. Trial the knife on the intended cheese: check sticking, slice control and whether the handle lets the blade reach the board.

State the steel grade, heat treatment, finish, handle material and attachment method. Food-contact materials must be safe and suitable for their intended use. Request food-contact evidence for the finished knife, including coatings and any handle surface that touches cheese. Agree cleaning instructions and test any dishwasher-safe claim before approving production.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative wholesale batch of fixed-blade cheese preparation knives for a catering supplier under 8211 92 00 00, invoiced at £30,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £32,000. Duty at 8% is £2,560. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £34,560, so it is £6,912. Import taxes total £9,472; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £2,560 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Blade: compare shape and dimensions with the approved sample; check straightness, burrs around perforations, forked-tip finish and cutting performance on the intended cheese.

Handle: pull and twist to check movement; inspect rivets, tang attachment and joints for gaps where cheese can lodge; check grip with damp hands.

Cleaning: wash samples using the proposed care instructions; inspect for rust, trapped residue, coating damage, wood cracking and handle movement.

Packing: check blade and tip guards remain secure, edges cannot cut through the retail pack, and set contents match the order. Use the quality inspection guide to prepare the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

A perforated blade can still drag through soft cheese if the grind is poor. Thin blades can bend when used on hard cheese, while rough forked tips and unfinished holes snag cloths during cleaning. Trial each shape on its intended cheese rather than accepting a visual sample alone.

Loose handles, rust at the edge and residue in handle joints can make an otherwise usable knife unsuitable for repeat catering use. Keep the approved sample and material evidence for comparison with production. Check unfamiliar automatic-opening or disguised designs against the banned-knife rules before sampling; confirm applicable age restrictions, online age checks and delivery requirements with the relevant Trading Standards authority.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.